By Mary Alice Murphy

At Tuesday's work session, Grant County commissioners asked Gila Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Brian Cunningham to give the first county report.

"At the end of February, which was the last financial report the board has approved, with the March one to be addressed later this week, the bottom line for the month was a negative $141,000. We've had several months of negative bottom line, but they were not unexpected. We are confident that within the next few months, we will come out of it.

"Right now, we are re-engineering our revenue cycle, using outside expertise, instead of out-sourcing," Cunningham continued. "We are investing in our caregivers, but it is a temporary price for the services.

"Also significant amounts of money are going out on the upgrade of electronic health records," he said. "It will be coming to an end with the rollout on July 1. The process includes about 200 people, and we have to pull caregivers off the floor to build the records. We have filled some nurse positions with travelers. Over the next several months, this will all resolve."

He said the hospital is seeing physician practice growth in collaboration with the hospital. "It is increasingly difficult for physicians to make it on their own."

Cunningham said, with the pending retirement of ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Twana Sparks in August, the hospital has recruited a physician who will begin Aug. 1.

"We are in the process for an architectural plan to expand the labor and delivery area, as well as the operating room recovery area," Cunningham said. "We will determine the finances, and whether to pay for it ourselves or partially finance it.

"We are at a negative $1.1 million for the year in revenues, but we have more than $27 million in the bank," Cunningham said. "The health care environment is extremely challenging, but I am very confident we will continue to grow and serve the community."

He thanked the Legislature for allocating $125,000 in capital outlay to partially fund a portable X-Ray machine, which can go to the floor to the most ill patients to take X-Rays and send the records electronically to the radiologist for quick diagnosis.

Commissioner Ron Hall said the substance abuse treatment facility, Tu Casa, is pulling together a flow chart for the facility's partners. "We are on board with judges and law enforcement. We will soon talk to you. Thanks for your support."

Commission Chairman Brett Kasten noted: "Ever since Obamacare went into effect, it hasn't gotten better. It has gotten worse."

Hall said the statistic of 48 percent of New Mexicans being on Medicaid is disturbing. "They have insurance, but it's not paying much."

"You're not being made whole by any means," Kasten said.

Mike Carillo, Grant County Detention Center administrator, gave the next report. He said the department has no vacancies. An assessment of the facility continues. Two officers have been sent to a train-the-trainer course, so more training can be done in house.

"I want to thank Charlene (Webb, county manager) for really going after the $20,000 for inmate support," Carillo said. (The issue was reported in http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/28624-grant-county-commissioners-hear-from-sen-howie-morales-at-work-session-041916 )

The average daily population has been 66, eight more than last month. The high population of males was 57, two more than last month, and the high population females, 12, one more than last month. The average stay is 32.46 days.

"I had a three-hour meeting with the Department of Corrections," Hall said. "The New Mexico Association of Counties wants to reform the parole and probation violators program. About one third of inmates in county facilities are parole and probation violators. They should be paid for by the state, but the time in our county jails keeps increasing before they are transferred or even have a hearing. Maybe we can work with the Supreme Court to shorter their time in our facilities."

"We're trying to provide county managers with better statistics," Carillo said. "Out of the 66 for the month, 21 were parole and probation violators. We need help from the state to recoup our expenses."

"We're also still using detention centers as treatment centers," Hall said. "Once we have Tu Casa, we will get them out of your facility."

Commissioner Gabriel Ramos asked about the effect of Silver City referring criminal complaints to magistrate court.

"We just invoiced Silver City, and the payment to us has considerably dropped," Carillo replied.

"It's a lose-lose for us," Ramos commented.

"The Tu Casa subcommittee has been meeting with the service provider, Hidalgo Medical Services," Carillo said.

Road Superintendent Earl Moore said he had pulled his staff off the Loma Verde project for a while. "The road is in great shape. We need to lay six inches of base course, probably in July. We will pave Rosedale at the end of June or in July. Right now, we're patching potholes."

"I appreciate how fast you get on things when we call you," Kasten said.

"Any movement on the Wind Canyon road project?" Hall asked.

"Ray Castillo is working on the background documents," Webb said.

Sheriff Raul Villanueva said he would bring some students for D.A.R.E. recognition during the public input part of Thursday's regular meeting.

"We are having a lot of issues in the county," Villanueva said. "We are short-handed, but getting the work done. We had a quiet prom weekend. I want to thank my staff for what they are getting done. We have hired two new employees out of our communities. It helps us, but now we have to cover for the communities. We are looking for more officers."

"We were looking at sex-offender statutes," Hall said. "They are a real drain on resources. You have to pull people off the street. I hope you keep close contact with your affiliate. We have 50 sex offenders in the community that you're watching. It helps now that you are electronic. And the forfeiture act has been terrible. It needs to be addressed at the legislative session."

Villanueva said just keeping up with the sex offenders is a two-person job to ensure that they are following state mandates.

Hall also noted there is no state support for armed robberies and kidnappings.

"I will recommend the state take them over," Villanueva said. "I've had questions about the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas task force. There was a lot more to it than was put out. We have one agent on the task force."

Assessor Raul Turrieta thanked Grant County property owners. "The momentum in our office is wonderful. I thank my staff that is working hard in the field doing appraisals. Matthew Meyer received a score of 96 on his real estate appraiser test and Ron Aguirre got a 92. It is a four-part course to be certified, and they are working through the process."

"We are spending a lot of time on re-appraisals," he continued. "I've been in nine of them over the years. I call it an update. We will be sending some staff to training in July. Our priority is to get our Internet service working better. On Wednesday, I will present the 2017 update on re-appraisals. The notices of valuation went out this month, and property owners have until May 2 to protest them."

He noted that the CID (Construction Industries Division) is behind in approving building permits by four or five months.

Ramos asked Turrieta to help with the county Trails Plan. "We had a good meeting on the Copper Trails between Bayard and Santa Clara and ultimately up to Pinos Altos."

Treasurer Steve Armendariz thanked the county manager for helping his office get larger screens for the computers.

"Two girls in the office attended the NMAC Edge program," he said. "They are one and two classes away from being state certified treasury officials.

"In February, when I gave my last report, we were in the low point of collections," Armendariz said. "In March and April, we brought in $297,000 for the county. We are back up in the busy time."

He said a team from state Property Management Division was out in the county red-tagging delinquencies from 2012, preparing for a tax sale.

"The deadline is May 10 for second-half taxes," Armendariz said. "We're up to 69.08 percent of collections. After May 10, unpaid taxes will continue to accrue penalties and interest of 1 percent per month. We are going to start tracking collections. It's looking like a lot of people are paying their taxes upfront in November. We have $1.8 million in outstanding taxes that are due by May 10. I am unopposed for treasurer this year. I look forward to continuing to serve the community."

Clerk Robert Zamarripa said May 10 is also the last day to register to vote in the primary on June 7. May 10 is also the day absentee voting begins in the Clerk's Office. On May 21, early voting will open in Bayard at the Community Center, Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

"When will the ballots go out to the outlying areas?" Kasten asked.

"Also May 10," Zamarripa said. "Hachita is pushing back. But I've had discussions with them to assure them that every vote is counted. We have many checks and balances."

Webb said the budget process is moving along. "Linda (Vasquez, financial director) is keying it in. I will schedule meetings with the department heads. The budget is scheduled for approval at the May meeting. The application for planning director closes this Friday. And we will upgrade the equipment of this room, so you don't have to pass the microphones to speak."

The regular meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Grant County Administration Center Commission Chambers.